Calling all firebreathers, spinners, jugglers, eaters, walkers, dancers...and those who have found other ways of messing with things we should, in all reality, not be messing with... .

A proposed charter can be found at this site, which is an extension of my personal site. This charter is open to criticism, debate, editing, and any other forms of change until in encompasses and serves the need for safe, creative performers at events and elsewhere who just happen to like fire.

At this point, I would call myself an Adept firebreather and a Novice poi spinner; I know several people who could call themselves Adepts and Novices in several other flaming performance styles. For the time being I'm happy to spearhead this guild, but if/when someone else wants the job I'd be happy to talk about giving it up, too.

I want to emphasize that the focus of the FPG is SAFETY first, artistry second. While everything to do with fire is cool, I'm really more in love with advocating a life without second-degree burns.

As per the charter, anyone who wants to learn any kind of fire art would first have to go through fire safety training, then find a fire-breather in the Guild to learn from. The person who is learning would have to serve as a fire safety for several fire performances or practices, while concurrently learning about fire breathing from their Guild fire-breather teacher. Once the learner feels comfortable, they can ask for their Novice-to-Initiate test in fire breathing.

Once a year, everyone is expected to go through fire safety training; Adepts are expected to lead one fire safety training session per year. Anyone who wants to take part in the fire safety training is welcome to, Guild member or not.

That's definitely a great asset and good safety training to have; a few of us in Wolfpack have been working on performance-specific safety training (i.e., how to extinguish performing props, performers and performance spaces, things like that). We are still working on the format of the guild training and would love your input, too.

The guild- and performance-specific training is what is mentioned in the charter.

Sorry for the late replies; I'm pirating my neighbors internet and as you can imagine, that's not the most reliable service.

Demox: Right now the fire performers I can tell you about are the ones I know of because...well, part of the function of the Guild is to identify people of various skills and skill levels so we can all learn from each other. My hope is to get people on board for a meet-up at Springwars or possibly Pack Opener. So, in no particular order:

-Breathers-Sir Morpheus of WolfpackSir Fox of WolfpackTrigger of Wolfpack and the BoF (also poi, staff, and contact juggling)Lysis of Wolfpack and the BoF

These are performers that I know of. I know there are plenty more out there. Please, spread the word and get them involved in this forum so we can get as many people together as possible at upcoming events to get the Guild charter finished, the safety trainings started, and get **** lit up.

I noticed in your charter you mention pyrotechnic displays. Pyrotechnics are governed by federal and state law, through the ATF, and you prolly shouldn't trifle with that sort of thing. (I used to do displays professionally)A pyrotechnic display requires premits, etc, as well as a licensed pyrotechnician.

Demox: in the interest of safety and everyone being on the same page, yes, once safety training is established, it would be a requirement that you attend one and demonstrate what is covered to the satisfaction of the people running the training session. This holds for any and all Guild members and participants.

SMT: pyrotechnic displays are listed there for a couple reasons. First is that once upon a time I had a MN/WI pyro license (which has since lapsed and I have not been recertified), and have vague notions of renewing it someday. I also know several other people who are interested in learning stage pyro, and since those people are also fighters I thought maybe some time in the future there might be interest in bringing that into the realm of fire performance--ridiculously dangerous as that may be.

It has come to my attention since writing the first draft of the charter that the state of Illinois no longer recognizes pyrotechnic licenses held by individuals, due to several incidences of misuse that resulted in nightclub fires and deaths in the last few years. This means that pyrotechnics will not be possible or permitted AT ALL at any event held in Illinois until the moratorium is lifted, if ever.

Since I don't know if I'll be able to attend Opener and events seem like the easiest way to get people together, I want to have one or two at Springwars this year. As soon as a Springwar schedule is available I'll let everyone know what's going on and when.

In the meantime, keep in mind that everyone who is interested in fire performance is welcome in this group. I've got a facebook group set up for those who prefer to avoid the national boards, so if you know of people who might be interested point them in our direction!

I'm interested in the fire, I think it be really cool, and it bring more people to play this sport.

_________________In the middle ages, people took potions for their ailments. In the 19th century they took snake oil. Citizens of today's shiny, technological age are too modern for that. They take antioxidants and extract of cactus instead.

Hokay: Lookin' at Friday, May 22 at Springwars, in the two hours or so between fighting and feast. More specifics (actual time and location) will be proposed when there's an event schedule available for Springwars from the coordinators.

General meet-and-greet, questions, discussions, things of that nature. Any specific topics anyone wants to cover?

Where people find their equipment and what fuel most people use. It seems apparent that alot of people use different fuel (at least the few firebreathers I have talked to outside of bel) so a discussion about fuels would be excellent

_________________Brother and Captain of the Black CompanyBlack Company Attack Dog

troll around online to find supplies. but http://www.luxotica.com/ is good . its kinda expensive though. that and i think white gas is what most people use. spitters and spinners at least.... caution though, it taste like ****.

Most of the fire people out of Wolfpack use paraffin lamp oil. Wal-Mart and Meijer both carry it in 24- and 48-oz bottles and it's fairly cheap. Check the camping/outdoor grill/yard games section, it's usually around there.

White gas--do you mean naphtha? Gasoline with all the non-flammable parts removed? ::shudders:: Lamp oil has a slightly higher flash point and will give you the runs if you swallow a mouthful, but it's a lot less harmful in the long run.

White gas--do you mean naphtha? Gasoline with all the non-flammable parts removed? ::shudders::

pretty much. it burns cleaner and with a less oily residue. better for indoor stuff. i tend to use a mix, part lamp oil part karosine. burns longer and is cheaper. easier to do transfers with, but most people i talk to says its horrible compaered to the gas. so... idk

Still looking at that Friday 5/22, probably around 5 pm, hopefully in the picnic pavilion by the lake. Any questions before or after that, please shoot me a PM or post here. I'll also try to have something posted at Troll.

So even if you have no actual interest in fire performance, but do mess around with different forms of circus arts. This guild would accept you as a member?

This guild was originally intended to include those who practiced performance arts related to and including some kind of fire play, and to advocate the safety of the performers and the audience while such arts were being performed. Interest, however, has shifted, and Sir Morpheus of Wolfpack (a far better motivator than I) has put together a performance group called the Red Triangle Circus. While a lot of us in the Circus do fire arts, there's also more room for other circus arts as well.

I'm hoping to get one group integrated into the other at some point. Meanwhile, if you're interested in joining the RTC, you can PM Morpheus on the boards here or you can join the RTC group on Facebook and PM him there. I know he's always glad to have people interested.

Sorry for the late reply, but this thread's been dormant for a while and I don't check it as often as I should.